Input tray and drive mechanism using a single motor for an image forming device

ABSTRACT

A device and method for moving media sheets within an image forming apparatus. The device includes a motor; a pick mechanism operatively connected to the motor, a first gear set having a first ratio and operatively connecting the motor to the pick mechanism, a feed nip operatively connected to the motor to receive the media sheet and forward the media sheet along a media path, and a second gear set having a second gear ratio and operatively connecting the motor to the feed nip. The motor may operate at a constant speed and drive the pick mechanism at a first speed and the feed nip at a second speed. The first and second speeds may be the same, or the speeds may be different.

BACKGROUND

Image forming devices include input trays for introducing media into amedia path. A pick mechanism is associated with the input tray forinitially picking and moving the media sheet. The pick mechanism extendsinto the input tray and includes one or more rollers that contact andmove the media sheet from the tray. The pick mechanism may only move themedia sheet a limited distance along the media path before the sheetmoves out of range. A downstream drive mechanism receives the mediasheet from the pick mechanism and moves it further along the media path.In some instances, the drive mechanism is in proximity to the pickmechanism.

It is important for media sheets to move accurately along the mediapath. The media sheets are contacted by different mechanisms thatcontact and propel the sheets along the media path. The hand-off of amedia sheet from one mechanism to another often times causes problems.One type of problem during hand-off is accurately maintaining thelocation of the media sheet. Print defects occur such as incorrect lowerand upper margins when the media sheet is moved too fast or slow alongthe media path. Another problem is media jams caused by the media sheetbecoming skewed during the hand-off between mechanisms.

The image forming device should be constructed in an economical manner.Price is one of the leading factors when a user makes a purchasingdecision. Components within the device may be shared for differentfunctions thus allowing for fewer overall parts, and a lower overallcost. The components that may be shared should not detract from thereliability of the device, such that the overall savings in cost istainted by poor performance characteristics.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a motor that drives two separatemedia moving devices along a media path of an image forming device. Inone embodiment, the device includes the motor operatively connected to apick mechanism that is positioned to move a media sheet from an inputtray. A first gear set having a first ratio and operatively connects themotor to the pick mechanism. The motor is also operatively connected toa feed nip that receives the media sheet and forwards it along a mediapath. The feed nip is positioned downstream from the pick mechanism adistance less than a length of the media sheet. A second gear set havinga second gear ratio operatively connects the motor to the feed nip. Themotor operates at a constant speed and drives the pick mechanism at afirst speed and the feed nip at a second speed. The first and secondspeeds may be the same or may be different.

A swing arm may be positioned within one of the gear sets. The swing armincludes a first arm having an even set of gears, and a second armhaving an odd number of gears. Clutches may be positioned on the feednip and the pick roll to not interfere with the movement of the mediasheet along the media path as it moves at different speeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an image forming device accordingto one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a shared motor arrangement in afirst orientation according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a shared motor arrangement in asecond orientation according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart diagram illustrating the steps of performing theinvention according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart diagram illustrating the steps of performing theinvention according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a representative image forming device, such as a printer,indicated generally by the numeral 10. A first input section 13 includesa media tray 14 with a pick mechanism 16 to introduce media sheets intothe media path 21. A manual input 32 may also be located in a main body12 to introduce media sheets into the media path 21. A second inputsection 50 is also located in the main body 12 below the first mediatray 14. The second input section 50 includes a second pick mechanism 51that picks sheets from input tray 59. In one embodiment, the input tray59 has a larger capacity than tray 14 to hold a greater number ofsheets, such as a capacity of 500 sheets. Multiple input trays alsoallow for storing multiple types of media that may be picked andintroduced into the media path 21 as required. A feed nip 55 is locateddownstream from the pick mechanism 51 to receive the sheets and forwardthem along the media path 21. The media trays 14, 59 are preferablyremovable for refilling, and located on a lower section of the device10.

Media sheets are fed into the media path 21. One or more registrationrollers 39 disposed along the media path 21 align the media sheet andprecisely control its further movement. A media transport belt 20 formsa section of the media path 21 for moving the media sheets past aplurality of image forming units 100. Color image forming devicestypically include four image forming units 100 for printing with cyan,magenta, yellow, and black toner to produce a four-color image on themedia sheet.

An imaging device 22 forms an electrical charge on a photoconductivemember within the image forming units 100 as part of the image formationprocess. The media sheet with loose toner is then moved through a fuser24 that adheres the toner to the media sheet. Exit rollers 26 rotate ina forward direction to move the media sheet to an output tray 28, orrollers 26 rotate in a reverse direction to move the media sheet to aduplex path 30. The duplex path 30 directs the inverted media sheet backthrough the image formation process for forming an image on a secondside of the media sheet.

FIG. 2 illustrates the second input section 50. The pick mechanism 51includes a pick arm 52 with one or more pick rolls 53 at a distal end.Either the weighting of the pick arm 52 or a biasing mechanism (notillustrated) positions the pick roll 53 on the surface of the uppermostmedia sheet in the tray 59. The pick arm 52 pivots about the pick armdrive shaft 61 and the pick roll 53 remains in contact with the mediasheets as the amount of media within the tray 59 varies. By way ofexample, FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a small number of media sheets withinthe tray 59, and FIG. 1 illustrates a larger number of media sheets. Thepick roll 53 is driven to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 2 to drive the media sheets from the tray 59. A clutch 56may be operatively connected to the pick roll 53 to cause free rotationwhen the media sheets are moved by the feed nip 55 at a faster rate aswill be explained in detail below. Additionally, clutch 56 prevents thepick roll 53 from rotating in a reverse direction when the motor 60operates in a reverse direction. One embodiment of a pick mechanism andclutch is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/436,406entitled “Pick Mechanism and Algorithm for an Image Forming Apparatus”filed May 12, 2003, assigned to Lexmark International, Inc., and hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

The input tray 59 includes a ramp 54 that extends away from the pickmechanism 51 and guides the picked media sheet towards the feed nip 55.The tray 59 may be independently removed from the device 10 to refillthe media sheets, or may be operatively connected to one or more of thepick mechanism 51, motor 60, and feed nip 55 which together are alsoremoved during refilling.

Motor 60 is positioned to drive both the pick roll 53 and feed nip 55.Motor 60 is reversible to provide a driving force in both forward andreverse directions. Motor embodiments may include a stepper motor, or aDC motor with brushes. One type of motor 60 is Model No. RS-385-15155manufactured by Mabuchi Corporation. In one embodiment, a shaft 69extends outward from the motor 60 to mate with the first and second gearsets 62, 63.

Motor 60 drives the pick roll 53 via a first gear set 62 and the feednip 55 via a second gear set 63 each including one or more gears. In oneembodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first gear set 62includes two gears that extend between the motor 60 and the pick armdrive shaft 61, and transfer mechanism that transfers the rotation ofthe pick arm drive shaft 61 to the pick roll 53. In one embodiment, aset of gears, schematically illustrated as 78, is positioned in the pickarm 52 to transfer power from the drive shaft 61 to the pick roll 53.

Rotation of the motor 60 is likewise transferred to the feed nip 55 todrive the sheets along the media path 21. In one orientation, the secondgear set 63 includes five gears that extend between the motor 60 and thedrive nip roll 57, and in a second orientation the second gear set 63includes six gears that extend between the motor 60 and the drive niproll 57.

A swing arm 64 is positioned within the second gear set 63 tooperatively connect the motor 60 to control the feed nip 55. The swingarm 64 includes a first arm 70 and a second arm 71 each extendingoutward from a pivot 72. The swing arm 64 is movable about the pivot 72between a first orientation as illustrated in FIG. 2 and a secondorientation as illustrated in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the angle ofmovement a is about 10°.

The first arm 70 includes a gear 73 mounted at a distal end. Gear 73 ispositioned to extend between the contact gear 79 mounted at the pivot72, and to contact the driven nip roll 57 when the swing arm 70 is inthe second orientation as illustrated in FIG. 3. Gears 74, 75 aremounted on the second arm 71. Gear 74 is positioned between gear 79 andgear 75. Gear 75 is positioned on a distal end of the second arm 71 andcontacts the driven nip roll 57 in the first orientation as illustratedin FIG. 2. First and second arms 70, 71 may comprise a number ofdifferent gears, provided that the number is different on each arm. Adifferent number of gears cause the feed roll 55 to rotate in a forwarddirection regardless of whether the motor 60 is running in a forward orreverse direction.

The feed nip 55 includes a drive roll 57 and a second roll 58 spaced adistance apart to create a nip through which the media sheets aredriven. The drive roll 57 is in operative contact with the second gearset 63 and driven by motor 60. In one embodiment, drive roll 57 includesa first outer edge 57 a that is contacted by the gears 73, 75. A secondedge 57 b is in contact with and creates the nip with the second roll58. Second roll 58 is positioned to contact the drive roll 57. A biasingmechanism 91 may bias the second roll 58 to maintain contact with thefirst roll 57. In one embodiment, second roll 58 is constructed of threesmall rolls that are spaced apart across the width of the media path. Aseparate biasing mechanism 91 biases each of the small rolls intocontact with the drive roll 57.

In a first orientation as illustrated in FIG. 2, the motor 60 operatesin a first direction. The motor 60 drives the pick roll 53 at a firstsurface velocity via the first gear set 62. Simultaneously, motor 60also drives the drive roll 57 at a second surface velocity through thesecond gear set 63. The first gear set 62 and the second gear set 63 mayhave different ratios such that the motor 60 operating at a constantspeed results in the pick roll 53 and drive roll 57 having differentsurface velocities. In one embodiment, the drive roll 57 has a highersurface velocity than the pick roll 53. When the media sheet is incontact simultaneously with both the pick roll 53 and the feed nip 55,clutch 56 on the pick mechanism 51 allows for the pick roll 53 to rotateat the higher speed of the drive roll 57 to prevent interference withthe media sheet. In one embodiment, the gear ratios and drive rolldiameters are defined such that the pick roll 53 moves about 1.388 mmper motor revolution and the drive roll 57 moves about 1.395 mm permotor revolution (about 0.5% faster).

While the motor is operating in the first direction, the swing arm 64 isin a first orientation with the gear 75 in contact with and driving theroll 57 as illustrated in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, swing arm 64 ispivoted upward about point 72.

In a second orientation as illustrated in FIG. 3, the drive motor 60operates in a second direction. Clutch 56 prevents the pick roll 53 fromrotating in a reverse direction. As the motor 60 runs in the oppositedirection, the swing arm 64 is rotated about pivot 72 caused by thefriction with the gear shaft of gear 79. Gear 73 on the first arm 70engages the drive roll 57, as gear 75 on the second arm 71 moves awayfrom the roll 57. In one embodiment, the swing arm 70 movesapproximately 10° about pivot 72. The drive roll 57 continues to rotatein a forward direction (i.e., clockwise as illustrated in FIG. 3) as themotor 60 switches from the first direction to the second direction. Thisis caused by the different number of gears on the first arm 70 and thesecond arm 71. It is noted that the media sheet is stationary for amomentary period as the swing arm 70 switches from the first orientationto the second orientation.

The feed nip 55 moves the media sheet along the media path 21 and intothe metering nip 39. The metering nip 39 may be rotating with a highersurface velocity than the feed nip 57. A clutch 65 on the drive roll 57allows the drive roll to maintain contact with the media sheet androtate at the speed of the metering nip 39 during the simultaneouscontact. One or both rolls 57, 58 of the feed nip 55 may include aclutch 65 to allow the media sheet to move through the nip at the fasterspeed. Clutch 65 allows for one or both rolls 57, 58 to rotate fasterthan being driven to match the speed of the metering nip 39 and notinterfere with the increased media sheet speed.

An encoder 67 associated with the motor 60 may determine a position ofthe leading edge of the media sheet. Each motor revolution equates to apredetermined rotation of the pick roll 53 and the driven roll 57 and apredetermined movement of the media sheet. Controller 23 receives theencoder output and accurately tracks the location of the media sheet. Inanother embodiment, a sensor 80 is positioned within the second inputsection 50. The sensor 80 detects the passing of the leading or trailingedge of the media sheet and sends a signal to controller 23.

FIG. 4 illustrates one method of picking media sheets from the inputtray 59 according to the present invention. The operation begins withwaiting for a pick request and the motor 60 stopped (step 400). Aprevious media sheet may be in the feed nip 55 and the metering nip 39with the clutch 65 allowing the metering nip 39 to control the mediamovement. When a request for a pick is received, the motor 60 is drivenin a first direction at a slow speed (step 402). In one embodiment, thespeed is slightly slower than the normal media process speed, such as 2%slower. The slow speed ensures that any previous media sheet is notdisturbed by the forward motion of the feed nip 55.

The slow speed continues in the first direction until the media sheethas reached the feed nip 55 (step 404). By this time, the previous mediasheet has passed through and cleared the feed nip 55. The media sheetmoves at the speed of the feed nip 55, which is slightly faster than thepick roll 53. The motor 60 then stops, changes direction and runs at afast speed (step 406). The speed is faster than the normal process speedto reduce the amount of inter-page gap between the previous sheet andthe current sheet. In one embodiment, the speed is about 25% faster. Theclutch 56 allows the media sheet to move forward without interferencefrom the pick roll 53.

The fast speed continues in the second direction until the media sheetreaches the metering nip 39 (step 408). By this time, any previous mediasheet has already passed through and cleared the metering nip 39. Themotor 60 still moves in the second direction and then slows down to amedium speed to match the normal process speed of the metering nip 39(step 410). Metering nip 39 may be stopped or running in a reversedirection as the leading edge of the media sheet enters to align theleading edge as is well known in the art. Metering nip 39 then drivesthe media sheet forward at the normal process speed.

The medium speed continues in the second direction until the media sheetis controlled by the metering nip 39 (step 412). Motor 60 then stopswith the clutch 65 allowing the media sheet to move forward withoutinterference from the feed nip 55 (step 414). If the media sheet isstill in contact with the pick roll 53, which occurs with long mediasuch as legal length sheets, clutch 56 allows the sheet to move forwardfreely.

Motor 60 is held in a stopped condition until the trailing edge of themedia sheet has cleared the pick roll 53 (step 416). This may occurimmediately with short media, or there may be a delay for longer mediasheets. When the media sheet has cleared the pick roll 53, the next pickrequest is enabled.

In this embodiment, the second gear set has a higher ratio than thefirst gear set causing the drive roll 57 to have a higher surfacevelocity than the pick roll 53. Media sheets controlled by both the pickroll 53 and the drive roll 57 are moved at a higher speed even thoughthe motor 60 continues rotation at a constant speed in the firstdirection. In another embodiment, the gear ratios may be substantiallythe same such that the motor 60 operating at a constant speed results inthe pick roll 53 and drive roll 57 having substantially the same surfacevelocities. Likewise, the second gear ratio may provide for the driveroll 57 to have a variety of surface velocities relative to the meteringnip 39 when the motor 60 operates at the various speeds in both thefirst and second directions.

FIG. 5 illustrates the steps of another method of picking media sheets.Initially, the motor 60 is stopped awaiting a pick request (step 500).When a pick request is received, motor 60 is driven in a first directionat a fast speed (step 502). The speed is faster than the normal processspeed to reduce the inter-page gap with the previous sheet. In oneembodiment, the fast speed is about 25% faster than the process speed.

The fast speed continues in the first direction until the media sheethas reached the feed nip 55 (step 504). Motor 60 then stops, changesdirection, and runs in a second direction at a fast speed (step 506).The speed is again faster than the normal process speed to reduce theamount of inter-page gap between the previous sheet and the currentsheet. In one embodiment, the fast speed in the second direction isabout 25% faster than the process speed. The fast speeds in steps 502and 506 may be the same, or may be different depending upon theapplication. In one embodiment, the fast speeds are the same. Clutch 56allows the media sheet to move forward without interference from thepick roll 53.

The fast speed continues in the second direction until the media sheetreaches the metering nip 39 (step 508). Any previous media sheet hasalready passed through and cleared the metering nip 39 by this time.Motor 60 still running in the second direction then slows to a mediumspeed to match the process speed of metering nip 39 (step 510). Themetering nip 39 may be stopped or running in a reverse direction as theleading edge of the media sheet enters to align the media sheet as iswell known in the art. The metering nip 39 then drives the sheet forwardat the process speed.

Motor 60 continues to run in the second direction at the medium speeduntil the media sheet is controlled by the metering nip 39 (step 512).The motor 60 then stops with clutch 65 allowing the media sheet to moveforward without interference from the feed nip 55 (step 514). If themedia sheet is still in contact with the pick roll 53, such as with longmedia, clutch 56 allows the media sheet to move forward freely.

Motor 60 is held in a stopped condition until the trailing edge of themedia sheet clears the feed nip 55 (step 516). The next pick request isthen enabled when the media sheet has cleared the feed nip 55.

Again in this embodiment, the first and second gear ratios may beestablished to rotate the pick roll 53 and the drive roll 57 at avariety of relative speeds, including the surface velocities to besubstantially the same. Likewise, the second gear ratio may beestablished for a variety of surface velocities of the drive roll 57relative to the metering nip 39.

The term “image forming device” and the like is used generally herein asa device that produces images on a media sheet. Examples include but arenot limited to a laser printer, ink-jet printer, fax machine, copier,and a multi-functional machine. One example of an image forming deviceare Model Nos. C750 and C752 both available from Lexmark International,Inc. of Lexington Ky.

The embodiments illustrate a transfer belt 20 used for moving the mediasheets past the image forming units 100. In another embodiment, niprollers are used for holding and propelling the media sheets. Variousother forms of media movement devices may also be used in the presentinvention.

The present invention may be carried out in other specific ways thanthose herein set forth without departing from the scope and essentialcharacteristics of the invention. In one embodiment, the second roll 58is free-spinning with the surface velocity controlled by the rotation ofthe drive roll 57 and therefore does not require a separate clutch. Inone embodiment, the first arm and the second arm form an angle ofbetween about 75-90°. The present embodiments are, therefore, to beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and allchanges coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appendedclaims are intended to be embraced therein.

1. An input device for an image forming device comprising: a motor; a pick mechanism operatively connected to the motor, the pick mechanism positioned to move a media sheet from an input tray; a first gear set having a first ratio and operatively connecting the motor to the pick mechanism; a feed nip operatively connected to the motor to receive the media sheet and forward the media sheet along a media path, the feed nip positioned downstream from the pick mechanism a distance less than a length of the media sheet; a second gear set having a second gear ratio and operatively connecting the motor to the feed nip; the motor operating at a constant speed and driving the pick mechanism at a first speed and the feed nip at a second speed that is different from the first speed.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first gear set has a different number of gears than the second gear set.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the second gear set includes a swing arm having a first arm and a second arm, the first arm having an even number of gears, and the second arm having an odd number of gears.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the second gear set includes a swing arm having a first gear on a first arm, and a second gear on a second arm, the swing arm is positionable between a first orientation with the first gear in contact with the feed nip and a the second gear distanced from the feed nip, and a second orientation with the first gear distanced from the feed nip and the second gear in contact with the feed nip.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the swing arm pivots about 10° between the first orientation and the second orientation.
 6. The device of claim 4, wherein the first arm and the second arm form an angle of between about 75-90°.
 7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a metering nip positioned downstream from the feed nip and operating at a third speed greater than the second speed, the feed nip having a clutch to rotate at the third speed when the media sheet is in contact with both the metering nip and the feed nip.
 8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a clutch positioned within the pick mechanism that allows the pick roll to rotate at the second speed which is greater than the first speed when the media sheet is in contact with both the feed nip and the pick roll and the motor is operating at a first level.
 9. A device for moving a media sheet along a media path of an image forming apparatus comprising: a motor; a first roll having a first clutch; a second roll positioned downstream from the first roll along the media path a distance less than a length of the media sheet; a first gear set operatively connecting the motor to the first roll to drive the first roll at a first speed when the motor operates in a first direction; and a second gear set having a first gear path and a second gear path, the second gear set in a first orientation using the first gear path to operatively connect the motor to the second roll and drive the second roll at a second speed when the motor operates in a first direction; the second gear set being positionable in a second orientation using the second gear path to drive the second roll in a same direction when the motor is driven in a second direction; the clutch allows the second roll to control the media sheet when the media sheet is in contact with both the first roll and the second roll.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the first gear set and the second gear set are constructed for the first speed and the second speed to be substantially the same when the motor is driven at a constant rate.
 11. The device of claim 9, wherein the first gear set and the second gear set are constructed for the second speed to be faster than the first speed when the motor is driven at a constant rate.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first roll and the second roll rotate at the second speed when the media sheet is in contact with both the first roll and the second roll.
 13. The device of claim 9, wherein the clutch prevents the first gear set from driving the first roll when the motor is driven in the second direction.
 14. The device of claim 9, wherein the first roll is a pick roll positioned within an input tray.
 15. An input device for use in an image forming device comprising: a motor; a pick mechanism operatively connected to and driven by the motor, the pick mechanism positioned to move a media sheet from an input tray; and a feed nip operatively connected to and driven by the motor to receive the media sheet and forward the media sheet along a media path, the feed nip positioned downstream from the pick mechanism a distance less than a length of the media sheet; the motor simultaneously driving the pick mechanism at a first speed and the feed nip at a second speed that is different from the first speed.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the pick mechanism comprises a pick arm pivotally positioned within the input tray and having a pick roll on a distal end that contacts the media sheet, the pick roll being operatively connected to the motor to rotate and move the media sheet from the input tray.
 17. The device of claim 15, wherein the feed nip comprises a driven roll operatively contacted by the motor, and a driven roll in contact with the driven roll.
 18. The device of claim 15, further comprising a first gear set positioned between the motor and the feed nip to drive the feed nip in a first direction as the motor operates in a forward direction, and a second gear set positioned between the motor and the feed nip to drive the feed nip in the first direction when the motor operations in a reverse direction.
 19. The device of claim 18 wherein the first gear set includes more gears than the second gear set.
 20. An input device for an image forming device comprising: an input tray; a pick mechanism having a pick arm extending into the input tray and a pick roll positioned at a distal end to contact a media sheet within the input tray; a feed nip positioned downstream from the pick mechanism a distance less than a length of the media sheet, the feed nip having a drive roll and a driven roll; a motor; a first gear set extending between the motor and the pick mechanism to drive the pick roll at a first speed; a second gear set extending between the motor and the drive roll to drive the drive roll at a second substantially equal to the first speed; the second gear set comprising a swing arm pivotally positioned between a first orientation with a first gear contacting the drive roll, and a second orientation with a second gear contacting the drive roll.
 21. An input device for an image forming device comprising: an input tray; a pick mechanism having a pick arm extending into the input tray and a pick roll positioned at a distal end to contact a media sheet within the input tray; a feed nip positioned downstream from the pick mechanism a distance less than a length of the media sheet, the feed nip having a drive roll and a driven roll; a motor; a first gear set extending between the motor and the pick mechanism to drive the pick roll at a first speed; a second gear set extending between the motor and the drive roll to drive the drive roll at a second speed greater than the first speed; the second gear set comprising a swing arm pivotally positioned between a first orientation with a first gear contacting the drive roll, and a second orientation with a second gear contacting the drive roll.
 22. The device of claim 21, further comprising a metering nip positioned downstream from the feed nip that operates at a third speed greater than the second speed, the feed nip having a clutch for the drive roll to rotate at the third speed when the media sheet is in contact with both the metering nip and the feed nip.
 23. The device of claim 21, further comprising a clutch positioned within the pick mechanism that allows the pick roll to rotate at the second speed when the media sheet is in contact with both the feed nip and the pick roll and the motor is operating at a first speed.
 24. The device of claim 22, further comprising a clutch positioned within the feed nip that allows the feed nip to rotate at the third speed when the media sheet is in contact with both the feed nip and the metering nip.
 25. A method of moving a media sheet within an image forming apparatus comprising the steps of: driving a motor in a first direction to rotate a first roller in a forward direction; contacting the media sheet with the first roller and moving the media sheet along a first section of a media path; driving the motor in the first direction to rotate a second roller in the forward direction; contacting the media sheet with the second roller and moving the media sheet along a downstream section of the media path; reversing the motor to a second direction and continue rotating the second roller in the forward direction; and continuing contact of the media sheet with the second roller and moving the media sheet along the downstream section of the media path.
 26. The method of claim 21, further comprising rotating the first roller in a forward direction and picking the media sheet from an input tray.
 27. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of driving the motor in the first direction results in the first roller moving at a first speed and the second roller moving at a second speed different than the first speed with the motor operating at a constant rate.
 28. The method of claim 25, further comprising rotating the second roller at a faster speed than the first roller and clutching the first roller to freely rotate at the faster speed when the media sheet is in simultaneous contact with the first roller and the second roller.
 29. The method of claim 25, further comprising passing the media sheet from the second roller to a third roller with the third roller rotating at a faster speed than the second roller and clutching the second roller to freely rotate when the media sheet is in simultaneous contact with the second roller and the third roller.
 30. The method of claim 25, further comprising clutching the first roller to prevent backwards rotation when the motor is reversed to the second direction.
 31. A method of moving a media sheet within an image forming apparatus comprising the steps of: driving a motor at a first rate in a first direction to rotate a first roller in a forward direction and contacting the media sheet with the first roller to move the media sheet at a first speed along a first section of a media path; driving the motor at the first rate in the first direction to rotate a second roller in the forward direction and contacting the media sheet with the second roller to move the media sheet at a second speed along a second section of the media path; and reversing the motor to a second direction and continue rotating the second roller in the forward direction and contacting the media sheet with the second roller to move the media sheet along the second section of the media path.
 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising moving the media sheet at a faster speed along the second section of the media path than along the first section of the media path.
 33. The method of claim 31, further comprising rotating the motor at the first rate and moving the media sheet at substantially the same speed along the first section of the media path and at least a portion of the second section of the media path.
 34. A method of moving a media sheet within an image forming apparatus comprising the steps of: rotating a motor in a first direction and driving a first gear set to rotate a first roller in a first direction and driving a second gear set to rotate a second roller in the first direction; contacting the media sheet with the first roller and moving the media sheet along a first upstream section of the media path; rotating the motor in a second direction and driving the second gear set to rotate the second roller in the first direction; and contacting the media sheet with the first roller and moving the media sheet along a second downstream section of the media path.
 35. The method of claim 34, further comprising rotating the motor in the first direction and moving a media sheet with the first roller along the first upstream section and with the second roller along the second downstream section.
 36. The method of claim 35, further comprising moving the media sheet at a faster speed along the second downstream section than along the first upstream section.
 37. The method of claim 34, further comprising preventing the first roller from moving in the second direction when the motor is rotating in the second direction.
 38. The method of claim 25, further comprising moving the media sheet at substantially the same speed along the first upstream section and the second downstream section. 